Module SPRT1261: INTRODUCTION TO SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY

Department: Sport and Exercise Sciences

SPRT1261: INTRODUCTION TO SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• Provide students with a basic knowledge and understanding of the field of sport and exercise psychology, including familiarity with the major theories, intervention strategies, and methods of data collection.
• Prepare students with sufficient understanding of the body of knowledge of sport and exercise psychology to effectively deal with psychological content offered at Levels 2 and 3.

Content

• The module will introduce students to the study of the psychological aspects relevant to participation and performance in sport and exercise settings;
• The module will be structured around three core blocks of knowledge:
• Block 1: The individual. This block will explore individual-level factors influencing participation and performance. Indicative content includes: concepts of anxiety (eg sport performance anxiety, social physique anxiety), motivation, confidence and self-esteem, attention/concentration.
• Block 2: The Environment. This block will focus on the social psychology of sport and exercise. Indicative content will include leadership and group dynamics.
• Block 3: The Challenges. This final block will focus on contemporary 'hot topics' in sport and exercise psychology (eg injury, burnout, stigma etc). The focus centrally will be on how psychology can help understand and address these issues.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain a range of psychological concepts relevant to sport and exercise concexts, with reference to theories and application of research evidence;
• Show knowledge of individual and group behaviour in sport and exercise environments;
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of conventional methods of data collection in sport and exercise psychology.

• Use scoring keys and relevant literature to interpret results from sport and exercise psychological inventories;
• Find and identify different types of source materials used in sport psychology;
• Apply the basic principles of several psychological skills/interventions.

• Self-directed learning,; critical thinking; time management; application of theoretical and research knowledge to applied problems.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Staff-led content, including individual and group-based activities, will provide general outlines of the concepts and theories and to direct students to relevant literature;
• Interactive group activities serve to provide students with opportunities to more fully engage with the theoretical concepts, and to gain experience with psychological measurements and application of interventions. Time will be devoted to familiarising students with the structure and terminology of research communications in Sport and Exercise Psychology;
• Assessment will entail a two hour MCQ / short answer examination;
• The examination will test the breadth of students' knowledge and understanding of the relevant theories and concepts addressed in the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Series of learning tasks, including mock MCQs/SAQs.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University